Functional Aspects of Regenerated Hepatic Tissue

It is common knowledge that the liver surpasses most, if not all, glandular organs in its power to replace substance lost through disease. The anatomic processes involved in reconstruction of hepatic parenchyma after spontaneous or experimental injury to the liver have been well described by many investigators.1However, little is known concerning the functional capacity of regenerated hepatic tissue. A new approach to this important subject was opened by recent progress in tests of renal function, two of which were instrumental in the present contribution to the knowledge of pathologic physiology. The first of these, the rose bengal dye excretion test,2is based on the selective elimination, via bile channels, of this dye when given intravenously. Retention of rose bengal in the blood above 60 per cent at the end of eight minutes and over 30 per cent after sixteen minutes is indicative of decreased permeability of the